Iran has asserted that its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes, however, amidst the looming threat of a full-scale Iran-Israel war, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is facing increasing pressure from several high-power corners in the country to lift the ban imposed on developing nuclear weapons.

This week's Farda Briefing looks at growing fears in Iran that failing to strike a deal with the United States will lead to Tehran becoming a bargaining chip in Washington’s dealings with Russia and European powers.

The report came about a month after the UN human rights chief said Iran had executed 901 prisoners in 2024. Volker Turk said it was "deeply disturbing that yet again we see an increase in the number of people subjected to the death penalty in Iran year-on-year”. "It is high time Iran stemmed this ever-swelling tide of executions,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iran's top leaders aligned positions on issues around Iran's nuclear programme at talks in Tehran on Tuesday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.